Shooting rampage at Connecticut school leaves 20 small children, 6 adults dead

Police have named Adam Lanza, 20, as the killer Friday of 20 children at the young end – kindergarten-to- Grade 4 – and six adults, including the principal, at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, a school of nearly 700 pupils. Two of the children reached hospital but did not survive their wounds. The shooter was found dead at the scene. He is also believed to have murdered his mother, a teacher at the school.  His brother, Ryan Lanza, 24, is still being questioned by the police. Most other aspects of the mass murder, one of the most appalling in American history, including the fate of the perpetrator’s father, are still confused in the early stages of the investigation.
President Barack Obama in an unusually emotional statement “as a parent” promised meaningful action to stop “too many such tragedies.” In Washington and across the US, flags were lowered to half staff. Protesters gather outside the White House demanding gun control.